Archive | Diabetic Neuropathy

Best Lotions for Diabetic Feet

Diabetes can cause deprivation of oxygen to your skin, leading to poor circulation that might lead to severe, chronic dryness, slow healing, redness, cracking and itching. This basically means that diabetics can get injured more easily and are more likely to get infections that take longer to heal. Here are some of the best lotions for diabetic feet that can help alleviate these diabetes complications:

Neoteric Advanced Healing Cream

Neoteric advanced healing cream provides treatment for cracked, damaged and chronic dry skin. One of its main ingredients is TriOxygenc which helps infuse oxygen into your skin. This diabetic skin care cream is proven to speed healing and increase circulation by strengthening natural defenses of the skin. It provides instant soothing action by quickly restoring your skin to a healthier, smooth soft texture.

Apply as often as necessary or as directed by the healthcare expert or physician. Daily use is recommended to help maintain the skin’s soft, healthy appearance.

Gold Bond Ultimate Hydrating Lotion – Diabetic Skin Care Lotions

With diabetes, your skin can become rough, cracked and uncomfortable. Gold bond ultimate hydrating lotion is specifically formulated for dry skin with hydralast and seven intensive moisturizers to hydrate and soothe the skin while adding a strong protective layer of moisture for up to 24 hours. Gold bond ultimate hydrating lotion is ideal for daily use and does not contain any harsh alpha hydroxyl acids that irritate the skin.

Eucerin Diabetics’ Skin Relief Body Lotion

Eucerin diabetics’ dry skin relief lotion is specifically designed to leave the skin feeling comfortable, hydrated and healthier all day long. This unique, non-greasy formula is enriched with alpha hydroxyl which repairs and exfoliates dry, flaky skin. Besides smoothening dry, rough skin, Eucerin diabetics’ skin relief body lotion noticeably improves overall skin condition and appearance just after one use! It is designed to repair, enhance and protect your skin, giving you the confidence that comes from healthy-looking and radiant skin.

Benefits

The alpha hydroxyl formula smoothens rough, dry skin after just one use

Fast absorbing and lightweight

Fragrance free

Clinically proven formulation that provides 24-hour moisture

Paraben free

Dermatologist recommended brand

How to use

Apply liberally over rough, dry skin every day or as recommended by the physician. Apply immediately after showering or bathing for best results.

DiabetAid Pain and Tingling Relief Lotion

Diabetes can cause two main problems that hurt your legs and feet. One complication is damage to the nerves which leads to an infection or a sore. The other problem is blood flow which can make it hard for an infection or sore to heal. However, if you check for sores or cut sand wash your feet and hands with mild soap, chances of infections are greatly reduced. Sometimes you may also feel a tingling sensation in your hands and feet. Applying DiabetAid pain and Tingling Relief Lotion will relieve those uncomfortable sensations.

Benefits

Soothing relief for uncomfortable tingling in the feet and hands

Contains 4 essential moisturizers to relieve dry, rough skin

Does not contain any ingredients that are considered harmful or dangerous to diabetics.

How to use

Apply to affected areas daily but you should avoid applying more than 4 times per day. Children under 2 years should consult a doctor for directions and recommendations.

Are Your Experiencing Diabetic Foot Pain?

Being a diabetic, many parts of the body get damaged, due to having too much glucose in the blood for extended periods. One of the main complaints of diabetics, I’d say would have to be the feet! In a nutshell, the cause of diabetic foot pain is mainly brought about by two main conditions

1.Diabetic Foot Pain & Nerve Damage

Diabetic neuropathy (damage to the nerves) is a very common complaint which occurs in the legs and feet. Basically, this condition occurs as a result of the normal process of the disease.

This condition can be quite dangerous:

you may not feel any pain,

you may not feel hot or cold

sores, ulcers and even infection may be present and you’ll never know as you can’t feel it.

How often do we hear the words‘my feet are killing me’!

Well, those words may well be too true for diabetics, unless good care is taken of your feet and in turn, lessen the diabetic foot pain you are experiencing. There are many home remedies forDiabetic Neuropathy.

Diabetic Foot Pain Treatment

Start by Checking the trend of your blood sugar readings over the past few weeks (has it been a little on the high side). You should ask your Health care professional, his opinion regarding an A1c test. This test determines your levels over a time period. If your blood sugar levels are constantly high, this can contribute to nerve pain.

A good little gadget is a diabetic foot roller.

Diabetic Foot Pain Relief

Just gently massage your feet by running them over the roller. This may help reduce the severity of the pain.

Massaging the feet with some specialized diabetic foot cream, can play an essential role with preventing some of the problems.

2.Diabetic Foot Pain and Poor Circulation.

Diabetes often also brings about poor circulation to the legs and feet. Once again, this is due to high glucose (sugar) levels in the blood, and the effects this has on the arteries, veins and capillaries. Capillaries tend to stiffen and get thicker with extra fatty deposits – this causes problems with delivering correct amounts of oxygen and vital nutrients to the tissues. (Peripheral vascular disease). Veins can swell up, when there becomes more blood they can cope with. Blood then pools into the legs and feet, sometimes even leaking out onto the skin.

diabetes and joint pain

I was visiting my Mom recently – she has problems with her feet due to poor blood flow. She bought herself a Circulation Boosterand I tell you, the difference for her, was amazing!

It’s a great idea to have a regular check up with your podiatrist – perhaps once every 6 months.

Wear support hose, or get yourself a good pair of ‘diabetic socks’, for when you have long periods of sitting, or when travelling.

If you are a smoker, give up! If you are suffering from Peripheral vascular disease (bad circulation) you will definitely benefit from giving up smoking.

EXERCISE EXERCISE!Of course the best way to improve this condition, is to make sure you get regular exercise. Walking is great! If you can manage 20-40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, this will make a significant difference to your circulation. A perfect situation, is to make sure that you are walking quick enough to puff a little, but not too much so that you have problems holding a conversation. To sweat just a little is also good. It means you’re body is working.You will have to make this a life change – a regular part of you daily life from now on. If you’re not quite up to 5 days a week, just start with 2 or 3 and build it up over time.

Once again, massage is great and may also help to reduce diabetic foot pain.

For a diabetic, many things can start occurring and often times more than others without warning. For instance in over half of diabetics at some time or another they will develop diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

When a diabetic first learns that they have diabetes it can be very detrimental to them and their family because often times it is a disease that they will have to live with for the rest of their life. Diabetics go through so much such as edema in the feet, hands, fingers and toes, are more prone to infections because their immune system is compromised, peripheral vision impairment due to their muscles and tendons stopping from working like they should. Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain can be very difficult to deal with because in so many it is as close to becoming blind as you can get without being declared a total blind which many if left untreated or diagnosed will end up being.

When a diabetic is diagnosed as having diabetes the body has to start working harder which causes all kinds of problems. The kidneys have to start working twice as hard to either absorb all of the insulin being produced in order to keep everything intact and smooth working order or they have to work harder in order to make insulin. The veins and arteries tend to get a strain placed on them in which they can stress and overwork causing strokes or heart attacks and many other features as well.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain occurs when the diabetic or person is having trouble seeing, using their muscles and limbs and is in just a great amount of pain from overworking them. The main thing to remember with all diabetics is how to properly maintain your diabetes in order to keep this condition managed and your health taken care of.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which some form of damage is occurring to the nerves of the body that are located outside the brain and spinal column, medication for peripheral neuropathy can be any one of a large number of drugs that are commonly prescribed.

The disease most often afflicts those who suffer from diabetes, though it can be caused by other processes. Peripheral neuropathy may involve severe pain, numbness and loss of sensation, and even problems with motor control and even autonomic function. The disease can be divided into two subgroups, mononeuropathy when only a single nerve is affected, and polyneuropathy when many different nerves are affected.

Medication for peripheral neuropathy is often dependent on which symptoms the disease presents with in a particular individual. In cases where only minor nerve damage is present and the pain and associated symptoms are also minor, over the counter pain medications may be sufficient to alleviate the symptoms. In more severe cases narcotic pain relievers are sometimes prescribed, but these are usually frowned upon due to the risk of drug dependency.

Some anti seizure medications like gabapentin and phenytoin which are generally prescribed for epilepsy have shown to be very effective in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. One of the newest types of medication for peripheral neuropathy is the tricyclic anti-depressant. Tricyclic anti-depressants are effective at treating peripheral neuropathy due to the fact that they interfere with the way the chemical pain signals are processed by the brain and spinal column.

Even though medication for peripheral neuropathy is available and can be highly effective, the best way to treat the disease is to avoid it in the first place. This is especially true for diabetics who can often head off the nerve damage before it happens of becomes too severe by keeping their blood glucose under control and following a regimen of diet and exercise.

One of the fastest growing health problems of the modern age is neuropathy, and neuropathy cures have become big business. The word neuropathy means nerve pain, and neuropathy is usually a sign of some underlying health problem, such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis.

This is not always the case, however, and some forms of neuropathy are idiopathic, which means that the cause of the problem is unknown. In either case neuropathy causes tingling, numbness, and in some cases pain so severe that it can greatly decrease the quality of life for those who suffer from it.

In some types of neuropathy, where the cause is known, neuropathy cures are aimed squarely at treating whatever is causing the disease. In most cases, when the cause can be determined and mitigated the neuropathy will resolve and cease to be a problem. In other cases, the cause can’t be readily or easily determined, and the neuropathy cures are aimed simply at treating the pain or numbness that is associated with the neuropathy itself.

In mild cases of neuropathy over the counter pain medications such as ibuprofen may be sufficiently effective at treating the disease. In most cases however, and oral pain medication is prescribed by the patients physician as a way of taking care of the pain. In some cases antidepressant medications are even more effective than traditional analgesics, and may also help the patient’s mental status in the meantime. Topical medications, like lidocaine patches and gels may be prescribed to treat some forms of neuropathy and can be quite effective.

No matter which neuropathy cures a patient chooses to try, one of the most important things that can help is maintaining a good attitude. As long as the patient can maintain a good attitude about their condition they can still find enjoyment in life, and hope that a cure is right around the corner.

Feline diabetic neuropathy is the loss of nerves particularly in the legs due to hypoglycemia. This is from damage caused by high levels of glucose in the blood that damages nerves over time. The symptoms include weakness, pain, tingling, and paralysis. These can be seen in a cats hind legs becoming weak or the cat not moving as much as before. Often this is ignored by the owner as a symptom of an aging cat. The loss of the feeling (or the pain) in the legs will make the cat limp along and no longer jump.

Feline Diabetic Neuropathy can be Reversed

Diabetic neuropathy in dogs is less common but does happen and is seen by the dog’s legs becoming weaker or becoming unusable. But the good news is, it can be reversed with the right treatment in the early stages of its attacks on the nerves. With the proper diet and exercise with methyl-b12 a cats diabetic symptoms can be reversed. This condition destroys the nerves by blocking the capillaries that carry the nutrients to the nerve cells starving them to death. The supplement methyl b-12 works by rebuilding the nerve cells in the nerves, restoring the signal between your cat’s brain and the weakened muscles. It is a very safe vitamin to give your cat, it’s water soluble, which means your cat will pee out what they don’t need and it has no side effects. Studies have shown that other B-12 vitamins don’t work as effectively.

Though feline diabetic neuropathy is reversible it must be caught in the early stages of its damage. The time usually that it takes is 6-12 months to fully reverse any damage done to the cells. If your cat begins to limp and never gets better, a trip to the vet is needed to protect your cat and improve its comfort and quality of life, giving you many more playful years with your favorite animal. Plenty of exercise and a healthy eating plan is best for you animals as well, to manage feline diabetes.

Cats with Diabetes Life Expectancy.

Every cat is different – but very often, your pet can have a happy and healthy life as there are treatment options for Diabetic cats. We have heard of lots of diabetic cats reaching the age of 18 years or more and are still happy and healthy!

Diabetic foot numbness is a symptom of the disease diabetes. It happens when the nerves inside the foot become damaged due to lack of blood and necessary oxygen. This happens to almost 70% of all diabetics. This can happen with one or both of the feet. Diabetic foot numbness can also lead to many other serious health issues but is in itself harmless. Diabetic foot numbness can cause serious infection, inflammation, malignancy, and other abnormal processes. Diabetic foot numbness has also been linked to increases in stroke and heart attack. Diabetic foot tingling often appears before the foot or toes go numb and can fell like needles being inserted in to the foot.

Diabetic foot numbness is very common for those who have diabetes as the disease damages nerves and can leave the foot’s nerves in a bad condition. Many other things are also linked to the numbness of the foot such as diabetic foot swelling. The nerve damage that takes place in the foot can also be a bad sign for other nerve issues. The specific damage done to the foot can also occur to any organ system in the body and any nerve.

There are no treatments for this. Because of the damage that can be done by not being able to feel pain doctors suggest a few things for those with diabetic foot numbness neuropathy. Those with it should check their feet daily to see cuts and sores. (If you experience foot numbness talk to a doctor) In order to break new shoes in wear them for a few hours a day for a few weeks. Diabetic shoes are also suggested since them and extra help to deal with this issue. So see if you can find help with your diabetic foot numbness.

Is there anything else that can feel better after a long hard day at work than a 20 minute session relaxing with your feet on a diabetic foot massager?

Using a foot spa or a diabetic foot massager are both great ways to relieve and pamper your tense muscles, sooth those aches and pains associated with long periods of standing, walking, or just daily activities that cause discomfort for the feet.

Diabetics are more susceptible to foot problems than healthy people which in turn means if they get a cut, ulcer or blister it can lead to infection which if left untreated can cause permanent life threatening problems, lead to amputation and in the worst case, even death!

Diabetic Foot Massager – So Many Varieties!

A diabetic foot massager is available in all shapes, sizes and price ranges and make a great gift for anyone who is diabetic. One of my favorites I must admit, is the ‘Electric Muscle Stimulation’ variety. You just sit and relax, place your feet on the device where indicated and tiny pulses of electricity stimulate the nerves in the feet and legs. Of course there are adjustments so you would have it on a very mild pulse to start out with while you are getting used to the sensation. The action of nerve stimulation improves your blood flow and which then improves your circulation.

Other benefits of the Foot Massager…

Improves muscle strength

Reduces swelling

Slows down muscle wasting

And improves flexibility

Manual Diabetic Foot Roller

This is a cute little device I love also, because you can take it everywhere with your. Small and compact, doesn’t take up much room, perfect for traveling and even better when you sit back and get your partner to use it on your feet!

It’s very important to realize that it is quite common that even increasing age, does bring about issues with poor circulation and blood flow. Diabetes or not! We are probably all going to experience some level of the problems outlined above at some stage. We can all improve our circulation by more regular exercise and taking a closer look at what you eat.

Read more about how to treat diabetic foot pain treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy. HERE

Do you have diabetic foot swelling? Diabetic feet swelling goes along with all the other many problems associated with being a diabetic.

Foot swelling is due to the lack of circulation and poor salt content in one’s diet that can cause the blood vessels to contract smaller and not circulate enough blood around in order to keep all of your body running smoothly and properly.

Diabetics have to suffer from many other medical conditions associated with being diabetic such as diabetic foot edema, diabetic foot infections and many other diabetic foot inflammations such as ingrown toenails and infections.

Diabetics have to deal with a lot of feet problems because of poor circulation. Poor circulation in many diabetics are just a common thing associated with being diabetic because of the blood vessels not being as larger and also having to work harder in order to work properly to circulate all of the bodies blood.

One of the main things that is strongly urged with diabetics is wearing shoes, always wear shoes when going out and closed toe shoes because of the risk of infection. Diabetics have a harder time fighting off infections than people who are top of the line healthy. Diabetics bodies have to work harder making glucose and other nutrients than healthy people so therefore fighting infections are a harder to task to complete.

A lot of people who are diabetic and find themselves dealing with diabetic foot swelling or diabetic foot infections will have to wear compression stockings or hose in order to keep the swelling and edema down.

Diabetics who are one of the unlucky ones and find themselves getting an infection may find themselves losing a limb or undergoing years of pain management and going to pain clinics just in order to keep their pain levels and infections under control.